South Solon Meetinghouse

South Solon Meetinghouse is a historic church building in south central Solon, Maine. Built in 1842, it is a remarkably fine example of Gothic Revival architecture in a rural setting. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[1] The building is now owned by a non-profit organization and operated as a community function space.

South Solon Meetinghouse
Nearest citySolon, Maine
Coordinates44°54′47″N 69°46′44″W
Area0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Built1842
ArchitectDoe, John
Architectural styleGothic Revival
NRHP reference No.80000255[1]
Added to NRHPJune 16, 1980

Description and history

The South Solon Meetinghouse is located at the fourway junction of Rices Corner (or South Solon) Road, Parkman Hill Road, and Meetinghouse Road, about 5 miles (8.0 km) southeast of the village center of Solon. It is a single-story wood frame structure, with a gable roof and clapboard siding. A squat single-stage square tower rises above the main (east-facing) facade, consisting of a belfry with Gothic-arched louvered openings, and pinnacles at the corners above. The main facade is symmetrically arranged, with a pair of entrance flanking a tall central window, all three elements topped by Gothic-arched panels. The sides of the building each have three similar windows.[2]

The original box pews, pulpit and choir loft gallery are still in place.[2] The interior of the South Solon Meeting House was elaborately painted between 1952 and 1957 by 13 artists from the nearby Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. The artwork inside this building features a painting technique called buon fresco which has been taught at the Skowhegan School since its foundation. Some of the artists involved in this fresco project are William King, Ashley Bryan, Sidney Hurwitz, John Wallace, Sigmund Abeles, and Edwin Brooks.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "NRHP nomination for South Solon Meeting House". National Park Service. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
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